Coll 28/97 ‘Persia. Diaries. Tehran Intelligence Summaries’ [‎11r] (21/749)

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25 M
THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT
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17
PERSIA.
u pomDl nionts
With tne /
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July 10
i, 1942.
^SECRET.
_ . -J State
Under Seora,- y/
for Foret
Section 1.
[E 4124/19/34]
Copy No.
Sir R. Bullard to Mr. Eden.—\Received Jidy 10.)
(No. 211.)
HIS Majesty’s representative presents his compliments to His Majes^
Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour to transmit
herewith a copy of Intelligence Summary No. 26, the 24th-30th June, 1942,
compiled by the military attach^ to this legation.
Tehran, June 30, 1942.
' V
Enclosure.
~ Military Attache's Intelligence Summary No. 26 for the Period
June 24-30, 1942.
(Secret.) —
Persian Affairs.
Economic. (See Summary No. 25/42, paragraph 1.)
THE Persian Government is becoming more and more anxious lest their
wheat policy should be a failure. The current belief that there is a shortage
encourages hoarding, partly as an insurance, and partly for sales on the black
market, where the rate is double the Government rate. They also realise that the
widespread corruption among their subordinate officials handicaps any honest
efforts. The alternatives open to the Persian Government is to raise the price of
wheat, which would necessitate either subsidising bread, which they say they
cannot afford to do, or raising the price of bread, thus arousing a popular clamour
which they have not the courage to face. The Government’s idea of an ideal
solution is that imports of wheat should continue to arrive and that hoarders
should be forced to disgorge their stocks by economic necessity rather than by
compulsion by Government.
2. In order that close touch may be maintained with the position regarding
the country’s wheat supplies so that estimates can be made of the further
economic assistance required in accordance with the terms of the treaty, His
Majesty’s Legation has attached officers to the consulates in such numbers as
have been considered advisable, for the purpose of assisting in the collection of
, the greatest possible quantity of wheat from the districts. These officers will
have nonexecutive authority, nor will they interfere in any way with the working
'of arrangements made by the Ministry of Finance. Officers of that Ministry,
however, will give them any information that they may require regarding the
assessment and collection of wheat in their areas. These officers will tour freely
and make any investigations as they may think necessary, and will also visit the
collecting depots. Should any avoidance of delivery or other malpractices come
to their notice, they will, after such investigations as they may think fit to make,
report the matter to the British Legation for the information of the Ministry of
Finance.
3. In an endeavour to prevent hoarding and smuggled export to neigh
bouring countries, cigarettes in Tehran have been rationed at the rate of per
head per day.
Currency.
4. The Persian Government, having decided to mint additional coins, has
applied to the United States for the purchase of the necessary silver. The
American Government is said to have sanctioned the sale, payment for which will
be made in dollars.
[31—37]